14 motorcycle groups back pillion riding rules: task force

August 20, 2020

At least 14 motorcycle rider groups expressed support to enforce pillion riding rules, the Joint Task Force COVID Shield said on Thursday.

Police Lt. General Guillermo Eleazar, JTF commander, said motorcycle rider groups  welcomed the decision of the National Task Force on COVID-19 allowing motorcycle back-riding without barriers for people living in the same home.

“In appreciation of this effort, our groups will take part in the Operation Habal Watch and report them to avoid the abuse of this decision and to protect the riding public,” the Riders of the Philippines said in a statement.

In the same letter, the group appealed not to limit the use of head safety gear to full face helmets but Eleazar said under the guideline approved by the NTF on COVID-19, motorcycle riders and back riders are required to use at least helmets with full face visor, that must be worn all the time with face masks by the riders and back riders.

Eleazar said the Riders of the Philippines is composed of various motorcycle rider groups in various parts of the country.

“On behalf of the National Task Force COVID-19 chaired by Secretary of National Defense Delfin Lorenzana and the JTF COVID Shield, we express our earnest gratitude to the people and groups comprising the Riders of the Philippines for their decision to voluntarily help the national government on the enforcement of the motorcycle riding rules,” he said.

The JTF commander expressed appreciation to the group.

In order to be allowed to pass the Quarantine Checkpoints and random checkpoints by the PNP Highway Patrol Group, riders and back riders must present documents, such as identification cards and barangay certificates to show they are living in the same house.

The back riders must also be included in the list of  Authorized Persons Outside Residence (APORs), although the rider may or may not be APOR as long as the travel is intended to transport and fetch APORs to their workplaces and back home, particularly medical frontliners.

Eleazar said the use of motorcycle barriers is required for riders and back-riders who are not living in the same house. The move makes sure the new guideline on pillion riding will not be abused especially by those who would try to use their motorcycles for rent.

The new rules on pillion riding is being implemented at the areas under the general community quarantine like Metro Manila and nearby provinces.  Local government units in areas under the modified GCQ are given the authority to adapt the same rules or implement their own motorcycle pillion riding rules.

Eleazar said the approval of the new motorcycle back-riding rules is part of the gradual transition being implemented by the national government to ease the transportation for those who are exempted from the community quarantine amid limited operations of mass transport system and public utility vehicles. Ella Dionisio/DMS